OBITUARY

Evening Star, Issue 23686, 20 September 1940, Page 6

OBITUARY

MR HUGH NELBCN The death occurred on Monday, at the age of 81, of Mr Hugh Nelson, a prominent figure of the early dredging days, of Otago. Mr Nelson was bom in Lanarkshire, Scotland, and came to New Zealand at an early age. Soon after arriving his parents settled at Lovell’s Flat, and he received his education at Stonev Creek. After serving an apprenticeship to the blacksmith and wheelwright’s trade Mr Nelson worked at Gore and Balclutha, acquiring a general engineering knowledge. In 1895 he became interested in gold mining, and with a brother, Mr John Nelson, built the first dredge to operate On the Glenore field, which proved that a dredge could operate successfully in areas away from a river. His success with the method led to an expansion of tho gold dredging industry in Otago and elsewhere, and Mr Nelson subsequently erected machinery for about a dozen dredges in Otago and on the West Coast. In 1902 he became engineer for the Mystery Flat Dredging Company at Waikaia, later being appointed dredgemaster. When the claim -worked’ out he acquired a local coal pit and supplied fuel to dredges operating in the district. He also acquired several sluicing fields. He was a fairly keen amateur boxer and a good rifle shot. His wife predeceased him 19 years ago, and he is survived by four sons and three daughters—Hugh, Clifford, and Victor, of Dunedin; Douglas, of Piopio, Auckland; Mrs M'Whinney, of Dunedin; Mrs Winter, of Clydevale, and Mrs Millar. of Clinton. The deceased is also survived by his youngest brother, Mr Peter Nelson, secretary to the Dunedin Gardening Club. HR DONALD M‘INH€S Mr Donald MTnnes. who died recently at the age of 87. was born at Ballachulish, Argyleshire. In 1874, with his parents and ■ other members of the family, he arrived at Port Chalmers by the Invercargill. He had worked on slate quarries in his home town, and in New Zealand, with his two brothers, opened slate quarries at Herbert. Later he worked on the Deborah Bay tunnel, and was for some time a shepherd on the Cottesbrook run at Middlemarch, following which he took up land at Otiake. In 1902 he left Otiake, settling at Eyansdale Glen, where he remained until 1910. He then settled at Clinton, where, in addition to farming, he served on the Clinton School Committee and was R staunch supporter of the Clinton Caledonian Society. Three years ago he gave up farming and came to live in Surrey street, Dunedin. In his earlier years Mr MTnnes was a professional Highland dancer, and later he judged at both piping and dancing gatherings throughout Otago He was a member of the Otago Pipers and Dancers’ Association and a life member of the Gaelic Society of New Zealand. Ho had a family of eight sons and four daughters, nine of whom, with his wife, survive. MR ARNOLD TRINDER Notification lias been received in Dunedin of the death by heart failure of Mr Arnold Trindor, of London, well known and very popular in Home shipping circles. Mr Trinder was very highly spoken of in Dunedin 1 by masters aboard the New Zealand Shipping Company vessels, of which company, also the Trinder. Anderson Company, London, he was a director. He passed away on Tuesday. To-day Now Zealand Shipping Company offices throughout the*Dominion flew their house flags at half-mast as a token of respect to his memory.